La Parquera Snorkeling: Don't Kill the Reef!

Snorkeling is one of the most inspiring activities you can do. It’s a privilege to be able to float in the water alongside sea life, looking down on spectacular coral and finding yourself magically surrounded by colorful fish. But with that freedom comes great responsibility, as Peter Parker’s gentle Uncle Ben would say. Coral is very fragile. It’s battered daily by currents, and sometimes severely damaged by hurricanes. But its greatest enemy is humanity. Whether it’s monstrous oil spills, boat engines, or the fins on your feet, coral is easily damaged and takes years to grow back. We were mortified on this snorkeling trip in La Parguera, Puerto Rico, to see our fellow snorkelers -- AND our guides -- standing on the reefs and kicking them with their snorkel fins. The dive shop, Paradise Divers, gave no instruction on reef safety or how to snorkel before the boat launched, when many of our fellow snorkelers were clearly inexperienced. The trip leader also picked up sea creatures and put them in participants' hands, a huge no-no! So we decided we needed to make sure our Messy Suitcase friends are educated about reef safety and snorkeling practices. Don’t be part of the problem! Visit our blog to learn how to snorkel without damaging coral or hurting sea creatures, at https://messysuitcase.com/index.php/2022/03/09/snorkeling-safety-tips/.